Hi all,
On Tuesday last week two metallic starlings arrived in the nursery. By Thursday there was a flock of a hundred very hungry birds. It’s so good to see them back. As nature arranges, the macaranga are in fruit and the trees vibrate as the birds feed from inside the dense foliage. Saturday the metallic starlings were showing signs of courtship. Male song imitating canaries and budgerigars, or at least that what it sounded like to me. The female with head bent tweeting.
On Tuesday last week two metallic starlings arrived in the nursery. By Thursday there was a flock of a hundred very hungry birds. It’s so good to see them back. As nature arranges, the macaranga are in fruit and the trees vibrate as the birds feed from inside the dense foliage. Saturday the metallic starlings were showing signs of courtship. Male song imitating canaries and budgerigars, or at least that what it sounded like to me. The female with head bent tweeting.
Carrying out a maintenance check on the van I found a very large white lipped tree frog in the engine. At the nursery the frogs are in chorus and singing the rain. Although the humidity has not increased as yet the signs of the season changing are strong. Winter has gone summer is here. The first heat-low was over the Kimberley this week. The forecast map shows the first circulation of the season developing later next week near the Torres Strait. The south-east trade winds are collapsing and the northerlies will develop along the coast. It’s going to be hot!
The algal bloom is still coming in the Johnstone River on every tide change.
The algal bloom is still coming in the Johnstone River on every tide change.
Also arriving last week the game fishing boats. Only a few boats are observing the speed limit in the river. For the rest its full speed ahead with little regard for anyone in a dingy or for the damage the wash is doing.
Before the game boats stirred up the mud the river was clear. Fish boils in the shallows and the egrets filling up with little effort.
The change in the Johnstone River over the last few months is dramatic. There has been no rain to bring sediment into the river and good tidal change has flushed the river clean. This is all about to change. Banana harvesting about to start again along with summer storms.
Couple of crocodile slides on the beach early Saturday morning. One of the cassowaries has walked across the slide, possibly disturbing them. The cassowaries walk the beach every day.
The matriarch cassowary Jessie has been at the feed stations several times a day. She hangs about in the mangroves as if she is waiting. Or at least I am hoping that she is waiting for Dad 4 to show up with her chicks. The other cassowaries have to be quick to the feed stations as Jessie eats most of the food if she is there first.
Saw another pink-tongued skink this week. It was about 20cm, had a blue tongue and a white snout. The same as the large 50cm skink I saw a few weeks ago.
This little velvet gecko, was on a heliconia flower. Does anyone know which one it is?
Caught two of the piglets in the cage last week. I really didn’t think they would be strong enough to push the door open. Both piglets were male and they are being fattened up by pig-man Ronnie for Christmas ham.
I am concerned for the skinks and ground birds with a feral cat wandering around the nursery this weekend. Will get a cat-cage from the Council pound next week.
I am concerned for the skinks and ground birds with a feral cat wandering around the nursery this weekend. Will get a cat-cage from the Council pound next week.
Got a good view from the nursery dunny at the moment with Tecomanthe hillii, the Roaring Meg creeper in full bloom inside the toilet. Whoever said Australian rainforest plants were not spectacular!
Cheers from the dunny seat at Coquette Point,
Yvonne C.
Cheers from the dunny seat at Coquette Point,
Yvonne C.
